Lawyers representing the prosecution and defense made new sentencing arguments in the Rodney Constantine case after the judge rejected their initial recommendation of a four-year prison term. Judge Bruce Short deemed the initial proposal too lenient for Constantine, who caused a fatal drunk driving accident and displayed minimal remorse.
During the recent court session, Crown prosecutor Deidre Badcock and defense attorney Dan Furey revised their suggestion by adding an extra year to the proposed sentence. Badcock expressed confidence that the extended sentence would provide closure to the victim’s family and prevent further legal delays.
According to court details, Constantine was driving at speeds between 125 and 165 km/h after consuming approximately 15 drinks on December 10, 2023, in St. John’s. The incident led to a tragic crash that claimed the life of Mark Squires, a passenger in the vehicle, while Constantine and another passenger sustained injuries.
Both legal representatives justified the new five-year sentencing recommendation. Badcock highlighted that the decision to increase the term was influenced by a negative pre-sentence report on Constantine, which revealed his refusal to accept responsibility for his actions.
Badcock emphasized Constantine’s alarming driving record, citing instances of reckless driving following the fatal crash. Judge Short criticized Constantine’s lack of remorse and irresponsible behavior post-accident, indicating a pattern of disregard for the consequences of his actions.
The judge postponed the final decision to allow further review of the case and ensure a well-founded and comprehensive sentencing decision. The verdict is scheduled to be delivered on October 2 at 2 p.m NT.